THE PRESENT STATUS OF PESTICIDE USE IN INDONESIA

Dandi SOEKARNA* Mas

Abstract

Rice production in Indonesia in 1981 totalled 21.9 million tons, representing an increase of 8.12% over the 1980 production which reached 20.3 million tons. The increase was obtained through the utilization of the recommended new technology implemented through the BIMAS and INSUS programs. Similar intensification program was applied to secondary crops and vegetables. Insect pests and diseases are factors lowering the yield. The brown planthopper, the green leaf• hopper as vectors of tungro virus disease and rats are still important limiting factors for production. Secondary crops like soybeans and mungbean suffer from leaf feeders and pod feeders. On vegetables such as shallot, red pepper and cabbage insect pests are dominant. Weeds are also creating problems and data indicate a yield reduction of 25-35% in irrigated rice, 75-90% in upland rice and about 45 % in corn and legumes. Pesticides including insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and herbicides are used along with other components, such as extensive use of resistant cultivars and strict cultural practices based on the integrated pest management system. Insecticides used are the carbamate group, organophosphorus compounds, some combinations of insecticides and recently the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Brodifacoun rodenticide has been widely used by the farmers recently although coumarin products are still being used. The fungi· cides are used mainly on corn against downy mildew, on secondary crops and vegetables.

In the 1980/1981 and 1981 crop seasons about 9,000 tons of insecticides, 2,500 tons of fungicides and 75 tons of rodenticides were distributed. In the 1981/1982 and 1982 crop seasons an increase of insecticide use was observed due to the extension and increase of the area planted with food crops, secondary crops and vegetables. About 15,000 tons of insecticides, 433 tons of rodenticides are available for distribution. The use of herbicides is concentrated in North Sumatera, South Sulawesi, Aceh, Kalimantan and Lombok for the control mainly of Monochoria vagina/is, Cyperus diformis, Echinochloa crusgalli and spikerush. Thiobencarb, 2,4-D, MCPA, oxadiazon and piperophos singly or as combinations are being used. In 1981 about 350 tons of herbicides were used by the farmers and in 1982 the total use increased to 1,618 tons. The tendency of increase of pesticide use is not due to more frequent applications, but is the consequence of the expansion of the area cultivated with food crops and vegetables, which needs protection from pest damage. The present and future role of pesticides in Indonesia is conceived as a complementary component within the framework of the integrated pest management system.

Introduction

15

The development of the agricultural sector in Indonesia is geared to the increase of food crop production, primarily rice. To reach the target, the implementation is carried out through intensification programs (BIMAS and INMAS) and special intensification programs (INSUS) covering not only rice but also secondary crops, such as maize, soybe·m, mungbean, peanuts and vegetables.

Since the programs were implemented, the average rice production during the Pelita II (Second Five Year Plan) has increased by 3 .78 % per year, being equivalent to 584,000 tons of rice.

In the first three years of Pelita III (Third Five Year Plan) average production increased by 7.79%, being equivalent to 1,455,000 tons of rice.

The 1980 rice production totalled 20.3 million tons representing an increase of 13 .28 % over 1979, while the production in 1981 totalled 21.9 million tons representing an increase of 8 .12 % over the 1980 production. Thus the target set by Pelita III was obtained earlier then was scheduled.

Respectively, *Entomologist and **Weed Scientist of Bogor Research Institute for Food Crops, Bogor, Indonesia.

rte acreage Table L

and the kinds of crops involved in the intensification prcgram ,;r,, listeu in

f'able l Intensification program for paddy ( L 979--1982)*.

====== -·-·-············=·================cc====-=====

Type of land

l. Sawah (wet rice)

2. Semi-wet rice

a. special intensification

b. common intensification

3. Tidal swamp rice

a. pasang surut

b. lebak

4. Upland rice

a. special intensification

b. common intensification

Total

1979/1980

897,925

2.490,934

69,995

174,586

3,633,440

* up to March 1982. Source BIMAS, March 1982.

Area planted ( ha)

1980il98 l

l ,345,69:2

2,453,581

54,998

173,693

4,027,964

1981/1982

2,150,808

51,340

1.%6,058

69,039

79

J 8,054

254,480

4,509,866

As indicated in the Table there is an increase in area every year. From the total surface area amounting to 5,316,904 ha in the 1981/1982 crop year 84.82% or 4,509,866 ha were included in the intensification program and the remaining 807,038 ha or 15.18% were cultivated in a traditional way without or with minimum use of advanced technology.

In the intensification program a package technology consisting of high-yielding varieties, use of fertilizer, good irrigation facilities and use of pesticides is being offered.

Out of the 4,509,866 ha about 87.75% or 3,957,577 ha were planted with new improved varieties and from this amount 2,199,588 ha or 55.58% were cropped with varieties resistant to brown planthopper biotype l (bph l) and brown planthopper biotype 2 (bph 2).

By using resistant varieties to control the brown planthopper, which is a major pest, a lesser amount of insecticides is needed. On the other hand to increase the cultivation of secondary crops, as shown in Table 2, for which no resistant cultivars to insect pests are available yet, an increasing amount of insecticides is being used, especially on soybean and mungbean.

After carbohydrate requirements had been fulfilled an intensification program of vegetables as a source of vitamins and minerals was initiated in 1979 / 1980. Up to 1981 / J 982 an increase in acreage was observed annually, involving the cultivation of several kinds of vegetable crops as shown in Table 3.

Table 2 Intensification program for secondary crops (1979-1982)*.

Crop Area pla11ted (ha)

1979/ 1980 1980/1981

L Maize 684,638 970,203

2. Soybean 97,399 131,022

3. Mungbean 29,456 41,196

4. Peanut 73,185 112,171

5. Cassava 234,922 302,405

6. Sweet potato 14,628 14,021

7. Sorghum 5,920 17,054

Total 1,140,148 1,588,072

* up to March 1982. Source BIMAS, March 1982.

Table 3 Intensification program for vegetables (l 979-1982)*.

Crop 1979/ 1980

J. Shallot 12,150

2. Red pepper 18.070

3. Potato 7,100

4. Cabbage 6,409

5. Chinese cabbage 4,094

6. Tomato l ,858

7. Garlic 239

8. Lowland vegetables 16,409

Total 66,329

* up to March l 982. Source BIMAS, March l 982.

Pest problems

Insect pests and diseases

Area pianted (ha)

1980/1981

11,0 lO

23,570

8,043

7,538

6,087

2,604

797

27,105

86,754

--···-•--····-·~-

!98 l/1982

892,183

151,744

30.911

l 24,786

338,218

l 5,132

l 0.306

1,563,280

1981/1982

17,897

30,764

12,026

7,265

6,582

3.883

1,459

32,080

111,956

Data on pest incidence in rice collected throughout Indonesia in 1980 and 1981 indicated that seven insect pests and one vertebrate pest infested rice for a proportion of more than l 0,000 ha. Based on the occurrence of the infestation in the last three years the order of importance was as follows: Rats, Rattus argentiventer; stem borer, mainly the yellow stem borer, Tryporyza in­certulas and the white stem borer, T. innotata; leafroller and leaf folder: rice stinkbug, Leptocorisa oratorius; am1yworms; brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens; green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens and N nigropectus; rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzae and stinkbug, Podops vermiculata.

The above mentioned pests caused damage to about 898,500 ha in 1980 and about 9 0,000 ha in 198L

Rice diseases, which occurred were caused by Xanthomonas myzae, Rhizoctonia oryzae, Piricularia oryzae and oryzae and the area damaged each disease varied between 3 ,000- l l ,000 ha.

Soybean, a potential crop, with an area of 750,000 ha harvested each year hosted more than 20 species of insects (Soekarna, 1964). The major pests are the beanfly, Agromyza sojae; flea beetle, Longitarsis suturellinus; some leaf-feeding insects such as soybean beetle, Phaedonia inclusa; some caterpillars; podborer, Etiella zinkenella; podsuckers, Riptortus linearis and Nezara viridula. In 1981 about 20,000 ha were infested by various insects with a damage intensity of 13%.

Two diseases considered important in some soybean areas are anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum g(ycine and soybean rust, caused by Phakospora pachyrhizi.

On mungbean similar pests are found except for the soybean beetle. Some pests causing important damage to maize are the seedling fly, A therigona exigua; the

stalkborer, Ostrinia nubilalis and the corn earworm,Heliothis armigera. A disease common on corn and causing serious damage is downy mildew ~"lclerospora maydis). Some horticultural crops, such as cabbage suffered serious damage from the diamond back

moth, Piute/la xylostella and Crocidolomia binotalis. Pseudomonas solanacearum and Xanthomonas campestris are agents infesting cabbage. Spodoptera exigua and agrotinae are important pests of shallot while aphids, thrips and fruit

fly, Dacus sp. cause serious damage to red pepper. Two diseases considered important are that caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum and fruit rot caused by Colletothricum sp.

(I) Use of insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides For the control of insect pests and diseases in Indonesia the concept of integrated pest

management is being adopted and implemented as far as the component technology is available. Research is directed toward the development of varieties resistant or tolerant to the target

insects or diseases, which is considered as the cheapest and most practical tool of pest management from the farmers' point of view.

However since the use of resistant cultivars only does not solve the pest problem, it should therefore be combined or integrated with other means of pest management, such as adjustment of the transplanting time, utilization of natural enemies, sanitation, use of pesticides, etc.

Guidelines on when and how the pesticides should be applied for the control of major pests on food crops was formulated (Directorate Plant Protection of Food Crops, 1980), and recently a color map was printed showing the pest complex of rice and its distribution throughout Indonesia (Directorate Plant Protection of Food Crops, 1982).

The expansion of the area cultivated with food crops, including secondary crops, and vegetables among others was the cause of the increase in pesticide use in Indonesia, as shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Amount of pesticides distributed (ton)*.

1979/ 1980 Total 1980/ 1981 Total 1981 / 1982 Total Pesticides 1980 1981 1982

ws DS WS+DS ws DS WS+DS ws DS WS+DS

Insecticides 4,035 2,480 6,515 5,603 3,402 9,005 8,823 6,160 14,983

Rodenticides 59 77 136 45 30 75 293 140 433

Fungicides 50 50 100 622 1,895 2,517 81 32 113

* Source BIMAS, March 1982. WS = Wet season. DS = Dry season.

In the 1979/1980 and 1980 crop seasons about 6,500 tons were distributed with an increase in the following years to 9,005 tons in the 1980/1981 crop season to reach approximately 15,000 tons in the 1981/1982 and 1982 crop seasons.

Although an increase in fungicide use from J 00 tons to 2,500 tons was recorded in 1980/ 198 J and 1981 it decreased again in the 1981/1982 and 1982 crop seasons to 113 tons.

Rodenticides distributed in the period 1979-1982, which consisted of brodifacoum and coumarin products totalled 215 tons on the average.

Insecticides and fungicides included in the BIMAS, INSUS and INMAS programs in the 1981/ 1982 and 1982 crop seasons, based on their active ingredients are as follows:

Insecticides

l. fenitrothion 2. monocrotophos 3. basudin 4. phenthoate 5. chlorpyrifos 6. carbofuran 7. carbaryl 8. carbamates 9. triazophos

l 0. fenthion 11. endosulfan 12. some combinations.

Fungicides

1. chlorothalonil 2. mancozeb 3. acyl alamine

(2) Future use of insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides

Rodenticides

1. brodifacoum 2. coumarin

The intensification program of food crops and industrial crops a1mmg not only at self­sufficiency in food and other agricultural and estate crops, but also at exports will meet problems among which insect diseases and vertebrate pests are one of the main constraints.

The strategy of pest management in Indonesia is directed to the development and implementa­tion of the integrated pest management system. Therefore, all kinds of component technology should be utilized and integrated to achieve maximum gain with the least negative effects on the environment. In this context, pesticides are one of the important supporting components, still needed for Indonesia as shown in Table 4. The type of pesticide used or to be recommended in the long run, should be compatible with other control components and at least show a low toxicity to the natural enemies.

2 Weeds The primary objective of weed control practices is to m1111m1ze losses of yields due to

competition between weeds and crops and also to create suitable conditions for crop growth so that maximum crop yield can be achieved. Experimental results from the Central Research Institute for Food Crops during the years show that weeds cause a 25--35% reduction in yield for irrigated rice, 75-90% for upland rice and about 45% for corn and legumes (Central Research Institute for Agriculture, 1977).

Handweeding has been commonly applied for a long time in the rice growing areas of the developing countries of Asia including Indonesia (Moody, 1977). One of the factors is the low cost of weeding and labor which can be easily obtained, in addition to the economic constraints on the fanners to buy herbicides. Low cost of handweeding in Indonesia [approximately US$0,40 daily wage as observed by De Datta and Barker (1975)] makes chemical control difficult to adopt by the rice farmers. But in the last three years, in the sparsely populated areas such as the large islands outside Java progressive farmers have started to use effective herbicides i.e. benthiocarb/ 2,4-D IPE, oxadiazon, piperophos/2,4-D IPE, in addition to 2,4-D amine and MCPA which they

used Lo apply.

( 1) Use of herbicides In 19T2 progressive farmers in North Sumatera with holdings covering abuu t 500.000 ha of

irrigated rice fields began to apply MCPA in their fields (Sundaru. 1977). This area is for the most part planted with estate crops like rubber.. oil painL coffee, etc. Herbicides have been applied in these estate crops for the control of weeds like Jmpcrara cylindrica, Jfikania spp. for a long time, including MCP A and 2,4-D for killing broadleaved weeds. This situation and conditions peculiar to rice cultivation in the area led the farmers to apply MCPA in their fields (Sundaru, l 977). ln 197 3 during the oil crisis MCP A disappeared from the market and the farmers switched to the use of 2,4-D amine which is becoming increasingly popular and effective in killing Mmwchoria vaginalis, Sphenoclea ze_vlanica and sedges Cyperus difformis, C'.yperus iria and Fimhristl'lis littoralis as the dominant weeds in that area. fn 1975 new herbicides like 2,4-D butyl ester were demonstrated on farmers' fields but due to their tuxicity w rice, their use did not become widespread. The fam1ers still use 2.4-D amine, such as U Bi 46. etc. (Table 5).

Table 5 Total amount of herbicides sold in North Sumatera (liter).

Year

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

MCPA (Agroxone-4)

17 .503

2,673

17,023

7,000

5,000

Source: P.T. Agricon and P.T. Chandrajaya, 1977.

2 .. 4-D (lJ 46 Bi)

12,610

7,560

10,080

In 1980 demonstrations on the new herbicides in farmers' fields by several Agricultural Companies in cooperation with the local Agriculture Extension Services brought a new prospect of chemical control. By the use of 2 ,4-D amine year after year weed population changed from broadleaved weeds and sedges to grasses (Sundaru, 1977). These conditions forced the farmers to apply new effective herbicides. Since that time benthiocarb/2,4-D IPE (G), oxadiazon (EC and sprinklers) and piperophos/2,4-D IPE (G) have been widely marketed ali over the region.

In South Sumatera, farmers at the Palembang rice estate covering about 500--600 ha have used since 1975 benthiocarb/2,4-D IPE (G) for direct-seeded rice. But during the fallow time noxious weeds appeared and glyphosate was used to kill these weeds before broadcasting the rice seeds.

In South Sulawesi which covers a rice area of about 500,000 ha progressive farmers apply herbicides on their fields, using MCPA and 2 ,4-D amine which are effective in killing several dominant broadleaved weeds and sedges (Central Research Institute for Agriculture, 1977; Sundaru, 1977) (See Table 6).

In 1980 benthiocarb/2,4-D (G) was introduced. Since the price is much lower than the cost of weeding, farmers are interested in applying it. In the mean time other herbicides like piperophos/2,4-D IPE and oxadiazon appeared in the market and the farmers began to use them. It seems that granular herbicides and sprinklers are preferred over EC formulations.

Year

1976

!977

1978

T:thlc 6 Total amount of herbicides us~d in South Sulawesi (iiter).

·========-=-- ........... :.·:;:..:::.=-::::.:.·::. =======

(DMA-6)

MCPA

{ Agroxune)

836

3.700

2154

PJ.raquat

( Gramoxone)

5,469

3,046

6319

Paraquat+ diuron

(Paracol)

325 330

908

Source: Agric. Exiension Service South Sulawesi, 1979.

(2) Future of herbicide use in the last 2 --3 years progressive rice farmers have used new effective herbicides, which could

give good control on the dominant weeds in Indonesia, 1.e. Echilwchloa crusgalli, leersia hexandra, Cvperus d(tfcmnis. Scirpus juncoides. Fimbrisrylis littoralis. iHonodwria vagina/is, Sphe1wc/ea zeylanica. But as in the advanced countries perennial weeds. like Paspalum distidwm. Sagittaria tr~fiJ/ia which propagate through stolons have become a problem.

lt seems that the use of be1bicides ln the near future wiil increase as shown on Table 7.

Table 7 Total amount of herbicides sold in North Sumatera, South Sulawesi and West Java (liter/kg).

Piperophos Oxadiazon Oxadiazon Thiobencarb Alachlor Year + 2,4-D + 2,4-D + 2,4-D

(Rilof H) (Ronstar) (Ronstar) (Satum-D) (Lasso)

1980 2,000 150,000

1981 9,000 5,000 20,000 315.000 352,000

1982 60,000 55,000 1,500,000 1,618,000

Source: CIBA GEIGY Ltd., Rhone Poulenc Ltd., Petro Kimia Kayaku, Monsanto Ltd., J 982.

Especially the use of the granules and the bottle sprinklers which is replacing that of sprayers is increasing.

It is expected that the use of effective herbicides in the coming years will have a good future in areas where weeding cost is high and labor is not easily available, like in North Sumatera, Aceh, South Sumatera, South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara Barat and Nusa Tenggara Timur. But even in Java where in general labor is easy to obtain, in certain areas the use of herbicides is being adopted by the farmers and the cost is much lower than that of handweeding. Herbicides which are already registered and could be marketed are listed in Table 8.

•}'}

Table 8 List of registered herbicides for food crops until 1982.

Herbicide Common name

Rice L DM A-6 2,4-D amine ·, Hedonal liquid 2.4-D amine 3. U 46 Bi 2.4-D amine 4. U 46D Fluid 2,4-D amine .J. Weedamine 2,4-D amine 6. Esteron 45P 2,4-D butyl ester 7. B asagran D 5 0 EC bentazon + 2,4-D 8. Rilof H SG piperophos + 2 ,4-D IPE 9. Rilof H 500 EC piperophos + 2,4-D IPE

10. Ronstar 15/30 EC oxadiazon + 2 ,4-D iso octyl ester ll. Ronstar ODS 5/5 EC oxadiazon + 2,4-D iso octyl ester 12. Saturn-D IOG thiobencarb + 2,4-D IPE 13. Esamir 400 MCPA 14. HarcrosMCPA MCPA 15. Agroxone-4 MCPA 16. Gramoxone paraquat 17. Paracol paraquat + diuron 18. Stam F-34 propanil 19. Ronstar 25 EC oxadiazon 20. Ronstar 2G oxadiazon 21. Ronstar 12 L oxadiazon 22. Basagran 50 ML bentazon 7"' ~-'· Rifit 500 EC pretilachlor 24. Rifit 3G pretilachlor 25. Gesapax ametryn 26. Diffenex chlometoxynil 27. Satunil 40/20 EC thiobencarb + propanil 28. Actril DS ioxynil + iso octyl ester 29. Rambasan 40 MCPA

Maize 30. Ge sap rim 5 0 WP atrazine 31. Agroxone-4 MCPA 32. Saturin 50/5 thiobencarb + prometryn

Soybean 33. Lasso alachlor 34. Afalon 500 EC linuron 35. Dual 500 EC metalachlor 36. Sencor 70 WP metribuzin 37. Maloran 50 WP chlorbromuron 38. Saturin thiobencarb + prometryn

Potato 39. Sencor 70WP metribuzin 40. Enide 50 WP difenamide

Source: Pesticide Committee, Dept. of Agriculture, 1982.

Refereaces

!) DIRECTORATE PL.AN'] PROTECTION Of FOOD CROPS (i98O): Rtc,)mmendation 1·or the management of pests en food cmp, in Indone,.i3 (ln Indonesian).

_) ----(F/8'.~): Map of rice pests in Indonesia (in Indonesian) ,1 CENTRAL RESEARCH !NSlITUTE FOR AGR!CULH:RE (iliTi)· Progress R,~pmt on

Weed Control Experiment, Bogor. 4) Dandi SOEKARNA (1964): Soybean pests. Paper prcs,:nted ar a Soybean Workshop. l8 pp.

Research Institute for Pests and Disease, (in Indonesian). 5) De DATTA, S.K. and BARKER R. (1977): Economic Evaluation of Modern Weed Control

Techniques in Rice. In: Integrated Control of Weeds. Fryer. J.D. and Matsunaka, S. University uf Tok~·o Press, Tokyo. 205-227

6) MOODY. K. (1977): Weed Control in Rice. Lecture 5th BIOTROP Weed Science Training Course. Kuala Lumpur.

1 } SUNDARL M. (l 977) A review 011 rile use of : A-D and MCPA in hrmers' Rice Fields. Proc. of 5th lndon. Weeds Conf

Discussion

El Sebae. A.H. (UN ARC/Egypt): fa !eptc,phos stilJ being used in Indonesia? Answer: Soekarna, D. (Indonesia): It is used on a strict basis by specialized personnel who

are well trained. Mochida, 0. ORRJ): Are then· :my data to show any positive correlation between yield and

production increase of rice and the amount of pesticides consumed in Indonesia':' Answer: Soekarna. D. ( Indonesia): Although precise data are not available. it appears that in

rice, yield loss can be reduced by 20 to 40% if pesticides are applied. Ishikura, H. (Japan): You indicated fluctuations in the consumption of rodenticides. For

example in 1981 the consumption was much higher than in 1980 and 1982. Is it due to the occurrence of outbreaks in that year or is it associated with a speciai rat control campaign sponsored by the government"

Answer: Rat outbreaks are erratic, hence the consumption of rodenticides. David. B.V. (India): l. What are the rodenticides used in lndonesia? 2. You mentioned about

1he use of combinations. Do you recommend the use of tank-mix combinations or ready-to-use combinations? Do you require registration from the government')

Answer: l. We use coumarin derivates and brodifacoum. 2. We recommend ready-to-use combination products supplied by the companies for controlling the stem borer and the brown planthopper if they occur together. Presently the use of combinations is decreasing due to the introduction of resistant varieties.

Knusli, E. (Switzerland): WHO has been publishing impressive figures on accidental poisoning of farmers in the developing countries. l. What is the situation in Indonesia? 2. What is being done and what can be done further to reduce the number of such accidents?

Answer: In Indonesia highly toxic pesticides are not used and when data on fish toxicity disclose harmful effects, the registration is not authorized. There are also strict regulations for the introduction of pesticides. There is a special organization, the Pesticide Committee under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture which controls the introduction of pesticides. Moreover, the extension service officers are responsible for training the farmers on how to use the pesticides.

Valencia, S.L. (IRRI): You mentioned that you are presently using py1ethrnids. ls it on rice or on vegetables. If on rice, what particular pyrethroid and what particular pest species are you controlling9

Answer: Pyrethroids are used on vegetables and not on rice due to their toxicity to fish.